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Originally Posted by wavelandscott
Someday I too will move to a slightly bigger scope but I want to keep my feet on the ground...Based on that fact I reckon 15 inches will be about my limit
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This is pretty much what I have decided to do also.
After corresponding with Peter Read of
SDM telescopes, he has agreed to build a 15"
obsession style truss dob for me. Peter has a reputation for excellent workmanship and attention to detail in scope building.
I'll be getting a custom scope made to my specs including feathertouch focuser, encoders and wiring for argonavis, telrad, shroud, dew heater for secondary, powered groundboard and
wheelbarrow handles.
My spec is that the eyepiece height at zenith matches my standing eye height. This means that the mirror will be at f4.8 and will be 1.6" thick pyrex provided by Mark Suchting of
Deep Sky Optics
People have asked why not an 18"? and, If your getting a 15, then why not a 16? My answer is that I want the size and weight to be manageable, easily hauled around and set up single handedly. An 18" is a big beast, and if its too much effort to set up it simply wont get used as much
I won't talk about price here, but rest assured that for only a few hundred dollars more than it would cost me to import a kit, build it, and add those goodies, Peter will build one for me far better than I could ever build myself.
This will be my dream scope
Now for the long, long wait......